Despite a previous estimate that there were 800,000 to 2 million locals using marijuana to treat ailments, the number of users registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and provincial health offices for amnesty was below 20,000. Though that number doubled when combined with another 20,000 people who registered via the Kwankao Foundation, it is still far under the number of estimated users.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 people – most of them under 45 – queued up outside the FDA head office in Nonthaburi, either standing in two waiting areas or joining a 200-metre-long queue.

Dr Surachoke Tangwiwat, FDA deputy secretary-general, said some people were disqualified because they presented forged documents and photos of marijuana plants downloaded from the Net. Others, meanwhile, were allowed to register despite bringing insufficient documents. They are required to present the remaining documents later.

Surachoke explained that marijuana users were given 90 days since February 19 to register and seek amnesty under the Narcotics Act.

“Once the marijuana in their possession – which should last two to three months – is finished, a patient cannot just get more. They will be required to enter the system for diagnosis and be prescribed cannabinoid medication by authorised doctors. If a doctor believes the ailment does not require marijuana, then other medication will be prescribed,” he said.

Hundreds showing up every day

Surachoke also said that up to 800 people per day have been showing up at the FDA’s one-stop service centre during the 90-day period, and that 16,000 people nationwide have registered to date. He believes more than 2,000 people will show up to register later in the day.

There were long queues in other provinces too, averaging about 100 to 200 applicants.

Some 150 marijuana users showed up to register in Phitsanulok’s Muang district. Provincial Health Office chief Dr Piya Sirilak said that since February 19 nearly 300 users had registered and dozens more were expected yesterday afternoon.

Monthasan Suksawat, 65, from Wat Bote district, who needs marijuana for his chronic spine and muscle pain, said he was sent back home to take photographs of the marijuana plants he grows. He said his home was 30 kilometres away, and urged the authorities to extend the deadline for the sake of patients.

In Krabi, breast, lung and liver cancer patient Arporn Kulabut, 54, registered her marijuana possession.

She said she had undergone modern treatments for 10 years before trying marijuana oil last year. Her condition improved within three months and her cancer had gone in remission, though she will still have to monitor her health.

Akaradech Chakjinda, an adviser to a Thailand-based marijuana promoting association, registered his possession of weed oil for treating insomnia and chronic headaches, and pointed out that many people whose ailment required marijuana weren’t allowed to register.

In Udon Thani, final-stage cancer patient Prapanida Chaikhini registered her possession of a small number of marijuana plants, which she depended on to make juice to drink every morning. She said her condition had improved, she was able to eat more and sleep well, and so wished to legally register for its use.

The Udon Thani health office deputy chief and pharmacist, Manoch Nakhawajana, said he had been campaigning to increase public awareness of the downsides of marijuana use, including intoxication and addiction, to ensure that Thais use marijuana products for medical purposes only.

A source at the Internal Trade Department revealed yesterday that a review of the medical bill suggests the price charged was unreasonable.

“The hospital will be asked to explain,” the source said.

According to the source, the complaint was filed via the Internal Trade Department’s 1569 hotline.

In January, the Cabinet approved a resolution to control the prices of medical supplies and services amid loud cries of opposition from private hospitals.

The source added that the private hospital in question can face legal punishment if it is unable to provide a reasonable explanation for the unreasonably high bill.

“From our examination of the bill, it is clear that the hospital has subjected the patient to over-treatment with many items that in fact might not have been necessary,” the source said.

If convicted, the hospital/its executive will face up to seven years in jail and/or a fine of Bt140,000.

The source added that the Internal Trade Department has summoned the management of 70 out of 353 private hospitals for a discussion on why the price of medicines they sell are three to nine times higher than market prices.

In a related development, a rule is now being drafted to require private hospitals and medicine manufacturers/importers/distributors to declare their selling prices on the Internal Trade Department’s website.

“The draft will be completed soon as Deputy Commerce Minister Chutima Bunyapraphasara is expected to sign it before the end of this week,” a source said.

This rule will take affect only after it is promulgated in the Royal Gazette.

Sources said affected entrepreneurs are not happy with this regulation and plan to petition the Central Administrative Court.

The holiday marks the day when His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn (King Rama X) was crowned King in elaborate ceremonies held in line with ancient traditions.

The previous Coronation Day was May 5, when the monarch’s late father HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) was enthroned in a similar manner.

Assistant Government Spokesman Athisit Chaiyanuwat said the change would give Thailand a total of 19 official holidays.

This includes the recently announced holiday on June 3, to mark the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Suthida.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Prime Minister’s permanent secretary Patcharaporn Intreyonk urged people to embrace harmony and live together peacefully under the blissful protection of the King, after a dispute erupted over a new music video for the national anthem.

She was speaking out of concern that some people might interpret the dispute as a sign of religious divide.

Lately, several Buddhists and groups advocating for Buddhism have insisted that the music video be re-edited to include symbols of the Buddhist faith.

Patcharaporn said the original version showed Cabinet members, civil servants and farmer leaders in front of the Bhakdibodin Building, which features a golden dome, and has led some people to suggest that the new video intended to promote one specific religion and downplay the other faiths embraced by Thais.

“That’s a misunderstanding,” she explained, pointing out that the building was located inside Government House.

Also, Patcharaporn emphasised that the video would be re-edited to include scenes of a Buddhist candle-lit procession around the giant Buddha statue at Buddhist Park on the recent Visakha Bucha Day.

“The new music video will even have pictures of monks collecting morning alms,” she said, adding the new music video would likely be released later this week.

PLANNED PUBLIC forums on a project to build a biomass power plant alongside a sugar factory in Khon Kaen province have been postponed indefinitely in the face of growing opposition.

Initially, the forums were to be held from May 21 to 23 in the province’s Non Sila, Ban Phai and Channabot districts, but a consultant is looking to delay them.

“The consulting firm, hired by Mitr Phol Group, has said that it needs more time to promote public understanding of the project,” Panupong Srithananuwat, a core member of the Hak Ban Kerd Group in Ban Phai, said yesterday.

According to him, the letter from the consulting firm reached his group last week.

Since early this year, Hak Ban Kerd Group has been raising awareness among locals of the project’s possible adverse impacts. It has also successfully nudged the Khon Kaen governor into establishing a joint committee to study the project. On the committee are representatives of both the government and people’s sectors.

The group also submitted a complaint with the government about reported intimidation against prominent opponents of the project.

The Cane and Sugar Board’s 10-year strategy (2015–2026) aims to boost the biomass-power production from 1,542 megawatts to 4,000 megawatts. The board has also approved at least 29 projects related to new sugar plants or capacity increases in old plants in the Northeast.

Such industrial projects, however, have raised concerns among locals who fear the associated sugarcane plantations will hurt their environment, given the intense use of agrochemicals in such plantations as is widely known.

In Roi Et province, the Tambon None Sawan Conservation Club yesterday called for the cancellation of a recent public forum on a project to set up a sugar factory and a bagasse-fuelled power plant in their hometown.

If it materialises, the project will be the largest industrial operation in Thung Kula Ronghai area, the basket of one of the world’s most renowned strains of jasmine rice. This area covers 1.27 million rai (203,200 hectares) of land in the provinces of Roi Et, Maha Sarakham, Yasothon, Si Sa Ket and Surin.

Held on May 16, the forum was criticised for paying each participant Bt300.

“Such industrial plants will hurt our local way of life and hurt the reputation of our jasmine rice,” Nupa Kaewpila said, as representative of the Tambon None Sawan Conservation Club.

She submitted a petition of more than 2,000 signatures to deputy Roi Et governor Lertbus Kongthong in support of a call for the forum to be cancelled.

“We also hope the Roi Et governor will cancel the second public forum that is scheduled to take place on May 23,” Nupa added.

As an organic farmer, Nupa said she could not stay still when such a big project threatened the jasmine rice they grow and the local way of life.

She added that she would try to find allies for the cause of protecting the Thung Kula Ronghai rice.

The project, under Banpong Sugar Co Ltd, has reportedly drawn huge opposition from locals.

On the occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity today, international environmental experts insisted our health and well-being are directly connected and benefit from healthy ecosystems and biological diversity, so unless we stop the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, we are endangering our own future.

A statement from the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres iterated that we are heavily dependent on healthy ecosystems and rich biodiversity to maintain food security and well-being, as the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe all depend on the natural world.

However, the ecosystems that sustain us are undergoing unprecedented harm, he said, citing a recent report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which revealed that the world is losing its biological diversity at the fastest rate in the last 10 million years.

“The impact on people worldwide will be grave, as we projected that with the current negative trends in biodiversity and ecosystems, 80 per cent of the targets for Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] will be undermined and we simply cannot allow this to happen,” Guterres said.

According to the report, humans are primarily behind the catastrophic degradation of the environment and the mass extinction of most flora and fauna species globally. It was found that over 75 per cent of the environment on land was severely altered by human activities and led to the extinction of at least 680 animal species, while pollution and overfishing are responsible for the up to 90 per cent decline of global marine fish stock.

Meanwhile, on the regional level, Mahidol University’s biology professor Philip Round revealed in an interview that the ecosystems and biodiversity in Southeast Asia are also increasingly pressured by deforestation, construction of harmful development projects, pollution and intensive use of farm chemicals.

“Even though Thailand has an outstanding wildlife conservation performance compared to other countries in the region, we have noticed that it still has a very high rate of ecological degradation and loss of biodiversity,” Round said.

“As I am a veteran birdwatcher and have been studying birds in Thailand for more than 40 years, I have noticed a great decline in many bird species that prey on insects. I have found that the vast reduction of insects from the intensive use of pesticides in farmlands is the main reason for the vanishing of many bird species.”

He said this vividly highlighted the link of each species in the web of life and cautioned that removing some species from the equation may result in a massive impact on the entire ecosystem and will inevitably affect our species.

He said that since some 75 per cent of our food crops rely on pollination, getting rid of insects will have a profound impact on our food security.

Pianporn Deetes, International Rivers campaigns director for Thailand and Myanmar, also cited the severe environmental degradation caused by large-scale hydropower development in the Mekong River Basin, which has already affected the livelihood and well-being of local people, especially in the aspect of local economy and food security.

Pianporn said the construction of hydropower dams in the Mekong mainstream has caused fish stocks to decline greatly.

And, she said, it is estimated that with this trend, the fish population will be further reduced by up to 40 per cent by 2020.

Nevertheless, Guterres said we can still avert a planet-wide ecological breakdown by halting environmentally harmful practices, diversifying our food systems and promoting more sustainable production and consumption patterns. However, he said, we must act quickly to reverse these trends and promote transformative change.

“On this International Day for Biological Diversity, I urge all – governments, businesses and civil society – to take urgent action to protect and sustainably manage the fragile and vital web of life on our one and only planet,” he said.

The International Day for Biological Diversity is marked on May 22 every year with the intention of raising public awareness on the importance of biological conservation.

The theme this year is “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health”.

The walk, aiming to free marijuana from the legal impasse that is blocking its use for medical purposes, will wrap up in Suphan Buri.

Decha, an advocate for sustainable agriculture, became a traditional medical practitioner and began producing marijuana-based medicines for free distribution among patients.

However, after his work was blocked in line with the recent amendment to the narcotics law, he and his allies decided that it was time to campaign for a new round of legal amendments.

The walk, 15km of which was completed yesterday, is being held to raise public awareness about cannabinoid medication as well as raise funds for the production of medicines, which are pending approval from concerned agencies.

In the end, Decha hopes the use of marijuana will help relieve the burden on public healthcare as people will have the option of treating themselves with marijuana at home.

Witoon Lianchamroon, a director of BioThai, one of the organisers, invited people to participate in the walk as well as put their signatures down in support of legal changes.

Arthit Urairat, the rector of Rangsit University, said the state was depriving people of the right to access marijuana-based medicines, which have proved to be beneficial. He too is participating in the walk.

One patient, a retired senior police officer, told Transborder News that he had been suffering from cancer for five or six years before opting for marijuana-based medication this year.

He said his health has improved and the cancer has gone into remission since.

 The people, most of whom were under 45, stood around in the two waiting areas or were part of the 200-metre-long queue.

Dr Surachoke Tangwiwat, FDA deputy secretary-general, said some people were disqualified because they presented forged documents and photos of marijuana plants downloaded from the Net. Others, meanwhile, were allowed to register despite bringing insufficient documents. They are required to present the remaining documents later.

Surachoke explained that marijuana users were given 90 days since February 19 to register and seek amnesty under the Narcotics Act.

“Once the marijuana in their possession – which should last two to three months – is finished, a patient cannot just get more.

They will be required to enter the system for diagnosis and be prescribed cannabinoid medication by authorised doctors. If a doctor believes the ailment does not require marijuana, then other medication will be prescribed,” he said.

Surachoke also said that up to 800 people per day have been showing up at the FDA’s one-stop service centre during the 90-day people, and that 16,000 people nationwide have registered so far. He believes more than 2,000 people will show up to register on the last day.

There were long queues in other provinces too, averaging about 100 to 200 applicants.

Some 150 marijuana users showed up to register in Phitsanulok’s Muang district. Provincial Health Office chief Dr Piya Sirilak said that since February 19 nearly 300 users had registered and dozens more were expected on Tuesday afternoon.

Monthasan Suksawat, 65, from Wat Bote district, who needs marijuana for his chronic spine and muscle pain, said he was sent back home to take photographs of the marijuana plants he grows. He said his home was 30 kilometres away, and urged the authorities to extend the deadline for the sake of patients.

Supoj Khaoleaung, who chairs the National Cannabis Council of Mae Sot District, said committee members at a Tuesday meeting set the group’s main goal as operating a non-profit communal enterprise. It would produce high-quality, yet affordable cannabis-based medicines to be made available to everyone, said Supoj.

As is required by the current Narcotics Act, the council’s next move is to forge an academic alliance with research institutes or universities with expertise in medical cannabis, said Supoj. It would later legally produce cannabinoid medicines from locally planted cannabis.

“Producing medicines from cannabis must be done carefully under the advice of experts, so we have to find and work with academic institutions with that expertise and ability, to ensure we can appropriately produce cannabinoid medicines at our location,” he said.

He said that after finds an academic partner and signing an MoU to work with the council to research and develop medical cannabis, the local group would construct a closed-system cannabis farm to provide locally planted raw material for medicinal production.

The new holiday date marks the day that His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn was crowned.

The previous Coronation Day was May 5, when the late King Rama IX was enthroned.

Assistant government spokesman Athisit Chaiyanuwat said the change would give Thailand a total of 19 official holidays.

This includes the recently announced new holiday of June 3, which is the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Suthida.